James Haskell's comeback lasted a grand total of 35 seconds on Sunday as he appeared to be knocked out going head-first into a tackle.

The England flanker last played for his club on May 21 last year. Having gone on to make a herculean contribution to the 3-0 whitewash of Australia, he had toe surgery and has been striving to recover ever since.

In the 58th minute of Sunday's gloriously compelling encounter, with Wasps having to man the barricades in the face of a spirited Leicester fightback, Haskell was dispatched from the bench to bolster the hosts’ defensive effort. His determination to do just that counted against him, though.

James Haskell of Wasps went straight into a tackle on Freddie Burns after coming on

The England flanker goes down after his head crashed into the chest of the Tigers' fly-half

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When the Tigers mounted another assault and Freddie Burns took possession, Haskell lined up a big hit. However, he led with his head and the collision left him in an alarming heap, face down on the turf, utterly motionless. Medical staff rushed to his aid and after a prolonged period of on-field assessment, he was replaced.

After being greeted by such fanfare when he came on, Haskell wore a sheepish look as he was helped to the touchline. Once Wasps had dug in to claim the win which restored them to the top of the league, their director of rugby, Dai Young, played down any fears that his back-rower had done himself any meaningful harm, other than to his pride.

‘I think he’s just embarrassed,’ said Young. ‘He took a nasty bang to the head, but he’s OK. He’s had a ribbing — the best 35-second comeback ever! But all jokes aside, he is OK. He went low and it was pretty much head on body. These things happen. I’m sure he will be happy with the hit, but not the bang on the head. He apologised and had a bit of a laugh about it. He had the big build-up, so I’m sure the boys will give him some stick.’

The Wasps medical team were forced on to the pitch to assess the injury suffered byHaskell

A decision was made to take the forward off just 35 seconds after he came off the bench

Thanks 4 amazing welcome back to @WaspsRugby, can we do it all again please, when i can remember it 😂 apparently it was 1 good hit & out

Haskell later tweeted: ‘Thanks 4 amazing welcome back to @WaspsRugby, can we do it all again please, when I can remember it apparently it was 1 good hit & out’.

England head coach Eddie Jones was in attendance and he will have been concerned to see Haskell stricken on the ground. The Six Nations opener against France is on February 4 and the 31-year-old’s availability may depend on whether he will be deemed fit to face Toulouse in the Champions Cup next weekend.

Wasps and England centre Elliot Daly also had to go off for a head injury assessment after a collision with team-mate Jimmy Gopperth in the final minute but the club are confident he did not suffered a significant concussion.

Despite the collateral damage, this was a magnificent contest between clubs who have become fierce local rivals since Wasps’ relocation to Coventry. In the first half, the home side ran amok and should have been out of sight. Their high-octane attacking game was driven by the half-back axis of Dan Robson and Gopperth, and illuminated in the wider channels by Christian Wade and the exiled Wallaby, Kurtley Beale.

Haskell hasn't played since injuring his toe during England's successful tour of Australia

Christian Wade scores Wasps' first try of the match against Leicester Tigers

Wade scored his latest try early on after a clever kick through by Daly, before the outstanding Tommy Taylor — another rising English hooker with Test credentials — touched down from a lineout drive. When Robson struck after a surging break out wide by Thomas Young, who must be on course for a Wales call-up, it appeared the game was up at 19-0.

Appearances were deceptive. Instead of capitulating at the end of a turbulent week that saw the dismissal of Richard Cockerill as director of rugby and the loss of Manu Tuilagi to another serious injury, the Tigers gritted their teeth and rallied, with their pack gaining ascendancy in the scrum.

In that critical area and all around the field, Leicester were inspired by Ellis Genge. Having been left out of the England training squad, the rookie prop has responded with two monumental displays in front of Jones. After terrorising Saracens a week earlier, he was an abrasive menace whom Wasps couldn’t quell, while also demonstrating superb handling and awareness of space. On this evidence, a first Test start cannot be far away.

Dan Robson breaks through to score a try to help Wasps build a 19-0 lead at half-time

A try by the electric Peter Betham and three penalties by Owen Williams saw the Tigers come back to within three point. Gopperth slotted another penalty to steady his side but Leicester weren’t done and, had it not been for a couple of glaring handling errors at the end, they could have snatched a famous win.

Aaron Mauger, the head coach now in charge until the end of this season, acclaimed Genge as a ‘physical, powerful beast’ and paid tribute to the team’s never-say-die commitment. ‘I don’t think you could ever question the character of our guys,’ he said. ‘They gave it everything and played with passion and commitment.’

Young was satisfied with the result, if not the performance, saying: ‘We came flying out of the blocks and were disappointed that we didn’t come away with more points in the first half. Then we had to hang on for dear life in the last 10 minutes. It’s nice to be top of the table and still a bit disappointed in how we are playing.’

Leicester Tigers fought back in the second half but Wasps held off the charge to seal a win